Safety can



Aug. 26, 1969 J. R. POUND ET AL SAFETY CAN Filed April 1. 1968 [72 z/erzz 'ms' \famczs' R Pound Edward 6'. EJ225022;

United States Patent 3,463,348 SAFETY CAN James R. Pound, St. Louis, and Edward A. Ellison,

Berkeley, Mo., assignors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 717,781 Int. Cl. B65d 17/20 US. Cl. 22054 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tubular container having an end wall with a removable central portion and protective shoulder for covering the exposed edge of the remaining portion of the can end wall after the central portion has been removed.

This invention relates to fibre board or metal cans of the type commonly used for the packaging of toodstutfs and many other articles, A growing trend in the production of these cans has been the provision of an end wall the central portion of which may be readily detached and removed from the remaining portion.

A problem which has arisen in connection with cans having this feature is the danger of cuts and abrasions, to one inserting his hand into the can, caused by the contact with the free, raw edge of the remaining portion of a can end which is exposed after the central portion has been removed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a protective means for shielding or covering the exposed raw edge to prevent such injuries.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a can of the type described, of a protective shoulder disposed under the can end and projecting slightly inwardly beyond the raw edge of the can end which is exposed when the removable portion is detached from the can end.

These and other objects of the invention Will be apparent from an examination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a can embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1, but showing the can prior to the attachment of the can end to the can body;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the position of the protective shoulder in relation to the can end after the can has been assembled but before it has been opened; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the relationship of the protective head to the remaining portion of the can end after the can has been opened by detachment and removal of the central portion.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention, and particularly to FIGURES 1 and 3, it will be seen that a can embodying the invention includes a tubular body 10, which may be formed of either paperboard or metal, having secured to opposite ends thereof a pair of end walls indicated generally at 12, which are formed of metal such as steel or aluminum.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, one of the end walls 12 (only the upper end wall being shown in the drawing) includes an annular outer portion 14 having a flange section 16, secured to the adjacent end of the can body in a conventional manner, and a perpiheral section 18 3,463,348 Patented Aug. 26, 1969 which extends radially inwardly from flange section and the body of the container.

The can end also includes a central panel portion 20 which occupies the majority of the surface area of the can end and which is detachably connected to the peripheral section by a weakened score line 22.

Central portion 20 may be provided with a pull tab 26 to permit it to be pulled up and detached from the peripheral section at the score line 22. As best seen in FIG- U RES 4 and 5 when the central portion is removed from the peripheral portion a free edge 24 of raw metal is exposed. This presents a danger of cuts to the hand of a person upon contact with said raw edge.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, there is positioned within the container against the inner surface of the container body an annular shoulder or ring indicated generally at 30 which is preferably formed of a molded plastic material.

Ring 30, as best seen in FIGURE 2, includes an outer flange section 32, which may be secured to the can body by crimping it over the upper edge of the can body under the outer section of the can end 12 as the end is applied to the body. The ring also includes a cylindrical vertical section, which is disposed to lie against the inner surface of the can body, and a horizontal inner peripheral section having a free inner edge 38 which projects a slight distance inwardly beyond score line 22 so as to slightly underlie a marginal outer area of can end central portion 20.

In order to hold the ring in position over the upper edge of the can body until the end member is seamed to the can body, the ring may be temporarily secured to the can body by an application of adhesive compound 40.

Thus, it will be seen that when the central portion is detached and removed, as shown in FIGURE 4, inner edge 38 of ring 30 shields or guards raw edge 24 of can end peripheral section 18.

Thus, the invention provides preferably a non-metallic, plastic annular shoulder which serves to protect the user of the can against cuts occasioned by the contact between the hand and the raw edge of the can end in the interior of the can.

It will be understood that, although the drawing illustrates the invention as applied to a cylindrical can, the invention may also -be applied to cans which have a rectilineal cross-sectional contour.

We claim:

1. In a protective arrangement for a container, the combination of:

(a) a tubular body member;

(b) a pair of end members secured to opposite ends of said body member for closing said container;

(c) one of said end members being formed of metal and including:

(i) an outer portion;

(ii) a central portion detachably connected at its outer edge to an inner edge of said outer portion;

(d) a molded plastic protective ring positioned within the container under said one end member and including:

(i) an outer section interposed between the outer portion of said one end member and an upper edge of said body member;

(ii) an inner section disposed to project radially inward a slight distance beyond the inner edge of said end member outer portion and to underlie the outer edge of said end member central portion for preventing contact between a hand of a person and the raw inner edge of said outer portion which is exposed when said central section is detached and removed therefrom.

3 4 2. In a protective arrangement for a container, the said end member outer portion and to underlie the combination of: outer edge of said end member central portion for (a) a tubular body member; preventing contact between a hand of a person and (b) a pair of end members secured to opposite ends the raw inner edge of said outer portion which is of said body member for closing said container; 5 exposed when said central section is detached and (0) one of said end members being formed of metal removed.

and including: References Cited (i) an outer portion; (ii) a central portion detachably connected at its UNITED STATES PATENTS outer edge to an inner edge of said outer portion; 10 3,303,958 2/1967 Taylor nor-54 (d) a separate protective ring positioned within the GEORGE HALL, Primary Examiner container between an upper edge of said body member and an outer portion of said one end member U S CL XR and including a section disposed to project radially inward a slight distance beyond the inner edge of 15 22090.6 

